Murder on the Pitch

The Cup Part 2

 Rowland FC's opponent on this day is once great powerhouse Essen–Mulheim. An English team miles away outside of Liverpool was founded in 1901 by a German entrepreneur of a paper factory who wanted a team to be named after the region he and his business partner were born in. Essen is an English team when looking at formalities in paperwork they are considered by the fans as the: Only Bundesliga team in England.

*So for now they will be known as the German team*

After years in decline as well as a brief relegation in the 90's they have since had a resurgence thanks in large part to the already infamous manager heading them and star player Friedrich Abt who was paid 150 million euros in fees for the player from Ligue 1 team Rennes. 

*Rowland's highest transferred player in club history was Charlie Lovegood, 29, who cost the club 45 million euros back in 2003 and has since been transferred to a team in the Premiera League in Portugal.

Yet even with the abundance of money Essen–Mulheim has against Rowland F.C. they are still the underdogs to the match according to the bookmakers. Rowland although a selective club in choosing their players between deadlines is not "frugal" they choose wisely mainly due to Patrick's tutelage under Alfrain Bordaine. He wised up after his disastrous run at Rennes that players should be selected based on skill not on his instincts just that one time while looking at Friedrich when he played for the Portuguese "Braga FC" youth team where he was living with his Portuguese father and German mother.

The FA Cup is held at Wembley Stadium which occupies 90,000 people when at capacity and even more out outside the stadium celebrating at the many pubs on the surrounding streets.

At kickoff precisely at 3:00 local time Essen – Mulheim starts with possession. Gregory is sitting in the dugout with his substitutes chewing on a stick of Green Apple flavored Hubba Bubba gum. He is wearing a blue tracksuit with black stripes along his shoulders and arms with the Banshee named "Winnie" on his left breast.

"Beautiful game eh boys?" he said to the five substitutes on the bench

Lennie Roy - 24

Christian St. Benedict - 26

Darren Yugo - 29

Vincent Keith - 32

Stephan Griffiths – 23

The five boys smiled and laughed and replied in a jumbled mess:

"Yes, it is Gaffer."

"Win or lose. Hopefully win. At least you've seen what Wembley's like at pitch level."

"Wise words sir," Darren said

Darren Yugo is a Serbian national brought in by Patrick after his momentous tenure at another Premier League club "Kingston F.C." where he was the right center-back for the better part of 7 years. He usually is the starter but in the last game they played just several days before against Derby Darren sprained his ankle and was told to be on "limited time" by the team physicians so Gregory chose to bench him for the start and sub him on when the time is needed – if need be. But right now he is sitting on the bench with other Britains and a Welshman in Stephan Griffiths who just 3 years previously was in the Championship league.